Hakuna Matata

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Contents

History

"Hakuna Matata" is a Swahili phrase that is literally translated as "There are no worries." It is sometimes translated as "no worries," although is more commonly used similarly to the American English phrase "no problem."[2]

In 1994, the Walt Disney Company's animated movie, The Lion King, brought the phrase to international recognition, featuring it prominently in the plot and devoting a song to it. A meerkat and a warthog, named Timon and Pumbaa, teach the main character, a lion cub named Simba, that he should forget his troubles. The song, like the rest of the soundtrack, was written by Elton John and Tim Rice, who respectively composed the music and lyrics. During production of the film, the filmmakers had planned to use a song titled "Warthog Rhapsody", but after the production team returned from their safari trip in Kenya, they decided "Hakuna Matata" would be a better phrase.[3]

Usage

In the movie, the song was sung after the wildebeest stampede and Mufasa's death. Timon and Pumbaa tried to cheer the depressed Simba, who feels guilty for his father's death. The song is to teach Simba to slack and relax and enjoy the life with no worries, while he grows older as time passes. At one part, Pumbaa almost said, "Every time that I farted," but Timon cuts him off, warning Pumbaa, "Not in front of the kids!" (referencing the audience and Simba).

Timon: Why, when he was a young warthog ...Pumbaa: When I was a young warthog!

Timon:(rubbing his ear) Very nice.Pumbaa: Thanks.

Timon: He found his aroma lacked a certain appeal
He could clear the Savannah after every mealPumbaa: I am a sensitive soul
Though I seem thick-skinned
And it hurt that my friends never stood downwind
And oh, the shame!

Timon: He was ashamed!Pumbaa: thought of changing my name!Timon: Oh, what's in a name!Pumbaa: And I got downhearted!Timon: How did you feel?Pumbaa: Every time I ...

Gallery

Trivia

"Hakuna Matata" is based on a song called "Warthog Rhapsody," which was written early in the production stage of The Lion King. Although the two songs shared the same message and position in the film, when Elton and Tim began working on the music, the song was completely rewritten and eventually evolved into "Hakuna Matata." "Warthog Rhapsody" was eventually re-produced and released on the Rhythm of the Pride Lands CD, as well as rewritten as "That's All I Need," which was used in The Lion King 1½.

There is a lost verse of "Hakuna Matata" which explained Timon's past situation, like Pumbaa's. It was later cut, but used in The Lion King 1½.

This is the most well-known song in the whole Lion King franchise.

One of the bugs that Timon pulls out of a knothole during the song is wearing Mickey Mouse ears.

Tim Rice was inspired to write the lyrics to Hakuna Matata when watching the British sitcom Bottom. Rice was also pulling for the show's stars, Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson, to voice Timon and Pumbaa.

In the Disney on Ice version, Simba as an adult sings his line by actually speaking "It means no worries, for the rest of your days".

When Timon says, "Not in front of the kids!" he stops Pumbaa from saying "farted," but in the Broadway production of The Lion King Timon is unable to stop Pumbaa from saying, "Every time that I farted".